Shell reloader



April 9, 1968 B. H. SWANSQN SHELL RELOADER 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR.BERNARD h. SWANSO/v Flled Feb 1967 3/30 X6 20 6 I A T TORNE YS April 9,1968 B. H. SWANSON 3,376,781

SHELL RELOADER Filed Feb. 5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FI 5 BERNARDSWANSO/v ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,376,781 SHELL RELOADERBernard H. Swanson, 903 Queens Lane, Anoka, Minn. 55303 Filed Feb. 3,1967, Ser. No. 613,823 3 Claims. (Cl. 86-25) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe apparatus includes a handle having a frame pivotally mounted theretowith a plurality of tools for performing the various operations inreloading a shotgun shell or the like. The apparatus also includes abase having an anvil mounted thereon for holding the shell while thevarious operations are being performed, and the means mounting the anvilon the base provide the anvil with a normal position wherein the shellis held firmly in the anvil and a position spaced from the base wherethe shell may be quickly removed from the anvil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the inventi'n.This inventionpertains to a shell reloader and more specifically to a reloader forshotgun shells and the like which is extremely versatile and simple tooperate and is inexpensive to manufacture.

Many shells, such as shotgun shells and the like, are reloaded by avidsportsmen and many people who shoot guns as a hobby. In some instances,reloading the shells provides the shellwith advantages which thesportsmen cannot acquire in a purchased shell, in most cases thereloaded shell is much cheaper than a purchased shell, and in someinstances the shells are reloaded as a hobby. Reloading a used shell canbe a relatively complicated task and comprises a plurality of operationswhich include removing the used primer from the used shell, inserting anew primer, resizing the shell, inserting powder, wads and shot, andcrimping the end of the shell to retain the material therein. In mostcases each of the various operations requires a different tool, and inmost cases a variety of shell receiving and retaining anvils areutilized in the various operations.

Description of the prior ark-In the prior art manual shell reloadersinclude a handle having a fixture attached thereto which is adapted toengage each of the various tools utilized in the reloading process.Also, in general, the anvil or anvils utilized to receive and retain theshells do not include an efiicient means for removing the shell after itis filled and crimped. Therefore, the removal of the reloaded shellrequires a large amount of time and patience in these prior art devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention a base having a handlepivotally attached thereto includes means for engaging an anvil having ashell receiving opening therein. The anvil and the receiving means inthe base are adapted to provide the anvil with two positions, one ofwhich is the normal position in which the shell is reloaded and theother of which is a position spaced from the base so that the shell maybe quickly and easily removed from the anvil. The handle of thereloading apparatus has a frame pivotally attached thereto with aplurality of fingers extending approximately radially therefrom. Each ofthe fingers has a tool fixedly attached thereto and adapted to perform adifferent operation in the reloading procedure. Each of the tools ispositioned so that it can be quickly and easily pivoted to an operativeposition above the anvil, and moved to an inoperative position after ithas been used. Because each of the vari- 3,376,781 Patented Apr. 9, 1968ous tools is fixedly attached to the handle, the tools cannot bemislaid, lost, etc. Also a large amount of time can be saved because thetools can be quickly moved to the operative position, rather thanrequiring the engaging and disengaging of each of the tools to a fixtureon the handle after and before each operation. Thus, the presentinvention is a highly versatile and efiicient tool for reloading shells,such as shotgun shells and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedshell reloader.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shellreloader which is extremely versatile and efiicient.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shellreloader having the various tools fixedly attached thereto and movablefrom an inoperative to an operative position during the shell reloadingprocess, so that the correct tool can be quickly and easily moved intoits operative position and the next step of the shell reloading processperformed.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification,claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, whereinlike characters indicate like parts throughout the figures:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the present apparatus, with theanvil removed from engagement with the base;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE1, some parts broken away and some parts shown in section, and includingthe anvil in the normal position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE1, some parts broken away and some parts shown in section, illustratingthe anvil in another position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged bottom view of the various tools attached to thehandle of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 as seen from the line4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged top view-of the anvil receiving portion of thebase of the apparatus illustratedin FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view as seen from the line 66 in FIGURE 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A generally rectangular shapedbase 10 has an upwardly extending post 11 fixedly attached to one endthereof. One end of a handle 12 is pivotally attached to the upper endof the post 11 so that the handle 12 normally extends outwardly andupwardly to generally overlie the base 10. In this embodiment the handle12 is made up of a fiat bar of metal, mounted so the flat sides aregenerally vertical, and the upper edge of the bar is rounded to providea smooth grip. The handle 12 is pivotally attached to the post 11 sothat it rotates downwardly toward the base 10 and may have a combinationof notches therein, such as the notches 13, 14, and 15 illustrated inFIGURE 2, to limit the rotation of the handle 12 relative to the post11. Also, the handle 12 may be maintained in the normal position,illustrated in the figures, by friction in the pivotal mounting, asillustrated in this preferred embodiment, or by means of a spring, suchasa torsion spring, connected between the handle 12 and the post 11.

A pair of flat plates 20 and 21 are fixedly attached to either side ofthe handle 12 in a spaced apart relationship, by some means such aswelding or the like, and form a pivotal mount for a frame 25. The plates20 and 21 are connected to the handle 12 in overlying relationship tothe base so that the frame extends downwardly to ward the base 10. Theframe 25 has a plurality of fingers 26, 27, and 28 extending generallyradially outwardly from the pivot point. Each of the fingers 26, 27, and28 is adapted to have a tool attached adjacent the end thereof, each ofwhich tool is provided to perform a different operation in the reloadingprocedure.

The finger 26 is formed with a generally cross-shaped cross sectionthroughout the major portion of the length thereof, and a circular crosssection adjacent the lower end. Thus, the finger 26 has longitudinalrib-like portions extending the length thereof for reinforcement. Thelower end of the finger 26 has a circular cross section, the diameter ofwhich is reduced radically to form a nipple-like protuberance 30 at theend thereof. The protuberance 30 has a longitudinal hole therein with aninsert 31, having a circular cross section, fixedly engaged therein bysome means such as press fitting or the like. The insert 31 has adiameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a primer utilized inshells so that it can be utilized to force the primer from a used shell.In the present embodiment, the entire finger 26 including thelongitudinal ribs and the protuberance 30 is formed as an integral partof the frame 25. However, it should be understood that the mechanismcould be constructed in a number of parts and it would still come withinthe scope of this invention.

The finger 27 is constructed with a cross section similar to thatdescribed for the finger 26 except that the lower end thereof is flatand generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. A groove32 is formed in the end of the finger 27 extending generally transverseto the longitudinal axis of the finger 27. The groove 32 is formed toreceive the end of an unused primer as it extends through the brass of ashell casing. Thus, the finger 27 may be utilized to force a shellcasing onto a primer without touching the primer.

The third finger 28 is a flat radial extension having an opening formedin the end thereof. A cylindrical crimping plunger 35 has a grooveformed in one end for receiving the end of the finger 28 therein. Thecrimping plunger 35 is pivotally attached to the finger 28 by means of abolt or the like extending therethrough. The extended end of thecrimping plunger 35 is substantially fiat and has a diameter somewhatsmaller than the Outer diameter of the particular gauge of shotgun shellwhich is desired to crimp, so that the crimping plunger 35 can be forcedinto the open end of a shell to firmly crimp the edges thereof and holdthe powder, wadding, and shot firmly therein. The crimping plunger 35 ispivotally attached to the finger 28 so that the force can be exertedlongitudinally on the shell and a firm crimp will be formed.

In the present embodiment the base 10' is formed by molding or the likewith the central portion thereof hollow to decrease the weight andamount of material utilized. The base 10 has an opening formedtherethrough in the upper surface of the end opposite the post 11 andapproximately in the transverse center. The opening 40 is positioned sothat each of the tools at the ends of the fingers 26, 27, and 28 can bebrought into substantial alignment therewith. The diameter of theopening 40 is large enough to allow a used primer to be pushed freelytherethrough. The opening 40, adjacent the upper surface of the base 10,is enlarged somewhat at 41 so that it will receive an anvil (not shown)having a flat surface and a shell receiving opening therein. This anvilis utilized in connection with the shell driver at the end of finger 27to place new primers in the brass of used shells.

A plurality of holes in the upper surface of the base 10 are positionedto circumferentially surround the opening 40, and are radially outwardlyspaced therefrom. The holes form two sets 45 and 46 with the holes inset 45 alternately placed between the holes in set 46. In thisembodiment, three holes make up the set 45 and three holes make up theset 46, although it should be understood that any convenient numbermight be utilized and it would still be within the scope of thisinvention. The holes in the set 45 are formed so they pass completelythrough the material of base 10, while the holes of the set 46 areformed to pass only partially through the material of the base 10. Theholes in the set 45 are much deeper than the holes in the set 46 forreasons which will become apparent presently. The holes 45 or 46 areadapted to receive feet 50 of an anvil 51.

The anvil 51 is generally cylindrical shaped with a shell receivingopening 52 therethrough. The shell receiving opening 52 has a slightlyincreased radius adjacent the lower surface of the anvil 51 to receivethe lip of the brass of a shell therein and prevent the shell frompassing completely through the opening 52 in the anvil 51. The feet 50extend downwardly from the lower surface of the anvil 51 and are spacedapart a sufiicient distance to engage either the set of holes 45 or theset of holes 46. The length of the feet 50 is such that when they areengaged in the holes 46, the bottom of the anvil 51 is spaced from theupper surface of the base It) and when the feet 50 are engaged in theholes 45 the bottom of the anvil 51 is in abutting relationship with theupper surface of the base 10. Thus, when a shell is placed in the shellreceiving opening 52, and the feet 50 are placed in the holes 45, thebrass of the shell rests against the upper surface of the base 10. Inthis position the crimping plunger 35 can be utilized to crimp the upperportion of the shell firmly into place. The anvil 51 can then be raisedand rotated degrees so the feet 50 are engaged in the holes 46, andthecrimping plunger 35 can be utilized to push the shell out of theshell receiving opening 52 in the anvil 51.

Thus, a shell reloader has been described in which the various tools forperforming the operations of reloading are fixedly attached to the tooland may be quickly and easily rotated into operative position. Also, theshell reloader includes at least one anvil for retaining a shell inoperative position and means for mounting the anvil wherein the shellcan be conveniently operated on and then removed without the use ofadditional tools or the like.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of thisinvention, further modifications and improvements will occur to thoseskilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular form shown, and I intend inthe appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A shell reloader comprising:

- (a) A base;

(b) a handle pivotally mounted on said base for vertical movementstoward and away from said base;

(c) an anvil having a shell receiving opening therein;

(d) means removably mounting said anvil on said base and providing saidanvil with two mounted positions, a first position wherein a lowerportion of said anvil is in juxtaposition to said base and a secondposition wherein the lower portion of said anvil as spaced from saidbase a predetermined amount;

(e) a frame pivotally attached to said handle having a plurality offingers extending radially outwardly and positioned so that each of saidfingers can be brought into approximate alignment with the opening insaid anvil; and

(f) a tool adapted to perform an operation on 'a shell mounted adjacentthe end of each of said fingers.

2. A shell reloader as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means removablymounting said anvil includes two sets of holes in the base with theholes in one of said sets having a substantially greater depth than theholes in the other set and said anvil having a plurality of plungeradapted to fit within the shell receiving opening in the anvil and crimpthe sides of the shell firmly in place.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. G. H. GLANZMAN, AssistantExaminer.

